Darley Doubles Bernardini's Fee to $150,000

Bernardini, who heads the second-crop sires’ list by progeny earnings this year, will stand in 2012 at Darley’s Jonabell Farm near Lexington for $150,000, double his 2011 fee of $75,000. Bernardini (A.P. Indy—Cara Rafaela, by Quiet American) is represented this year by the earners of more than $5 million.

Darley, owned by Sheikh Mohammed, also has priced Street Cry at $150,000, the same fee that the 13-year-old stallion stood for in 2011. Street Cry (Machiavellian—Helen Street, by Troy) has sired 13 grade/group I winners, including this year’s unbeaten 2-year-old Lyric Of Light.

New stallion Lonhro, an 11-time group I winner and Australia’s reigning leading sire, will stand for a fee of $30,000. He will be joined by another newcomer, Dubai champion Regal Ransom, winner of the Super Derby (gr. II) and the Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group U.A.E. Derby (UAE-II). He will stand for $7,500. Another Darley newcomer, grade I winner Girolamo, will stand at Sequel Stallions New York near Hudson, N.Y., for $15,000.

Charlie Boden, Darley’s head of sales said, “2012 is going to be an exciting year. Bernardini is a young horse we are so proud of, and he is proving to be truly world-class. Our other top stallions Elusive Quality, Medaglia d'Oro, and Street Cry will be joined by Australia’s reigning champion sire Lonhro, who has been so well received since we announced him just last month. We can’t wait to show him to breeders in January. Of our four freshmen who have started so well, Hard Spun deserves special mention. He’s leading the table by stakes winners, and we look forward to all of their 3-year-olds in 2012.”